Their debut album, "Everything Sucks" (1995), was an underground hit and led to a deal with Mojo Records (see also Mojo), an indie label. "Turn the Radio Off" (1996) established the band in the underground music scene, and they began touring throughout the USA. After the single "Sell Out" began breaking into the mainstream, including MTV, the album made an appearance on the charts. The ska revival was short-lived, however, and "Why Do They Rock So Hard?" (1998) did not lead the group to the mainstream.
Reel Big Fish released "Cheer Up" (2002) which began a movement into harder rock and pop sounds, with much less ska than the previous albums. The song "Where Have You Been?" was aimed at a wider audience, trying to drop the less popular ska sound, but was met with little mainstream success, despite the video. Their second most recent studio album was "We're Not Happy Until You're Not Happy" (2005).
They recently released "Our Live Album is Better Than Your Live Album" (2006) which includes 2 discs worth or their own tunes and a few covers of popular songs along with a DVD. They have worked on the soundtrack to BASEketball, which included a cover of A-Ha's Take On Me.
In 2006, they split from Jive records, who produced a "Best of" album against the will of the band, who could not prevent the release. The band has made a campaign to try and stop people buying the album.
Their 7th album "Monkeys For Nothing and the Chimps For Free" (2007) includes some songs that were previously recorded and released on other albums. It was also the first album with the band's new label, Rock Ridge Records.
In 2009, they released "Fame, Fortune, and Fornication" an album composed of covers of older songs, including "Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty, and "Nothin' But a Good Time" by Poison.
In 2012, Reel Big Fish released "Candy Coated Fury", which is their second album on Rock Ridge Records. This album was met with heavy amounts of criticism from fans and reviewers alike. PunkNews.org gave the album a 2/10.
in 2014, they released "Happy Skalidays", a holiday themed EP.
Their current release is 2018's "Life Sucks... Let's Dance!", which gained generally positive reviews from fans and critics.
Current members:
Aaron Barrett - guitar, lead vocals (1992–present)
Dan Regan - trombone, backing vocals (1994–present)
John Christianson - trumpet, backing vocals (2004–present)
Ryland Steen - drums (2005–present)
Derek Gibbs - bass guitar (2007–present)
Past members:
Ben Guzman - vocals (1992–1994)
Zach Gilltrap - keyboards/synthesizers (1992–1994)
Lisa Smith - guitar (1992–1994)
Eric Vismantes - trumpet (1994)
Stephan Reed - saxophone (1994)
Robert Quimby - trombone (1994–1995)
Adam Polakoff - saxophone (1994–1995)
Grant Barry - trombone (1995–1998)
Andrew Gonzales - drums (1992–1998)
Tavis Werts - trumpet (1994–2001)
Carlos de la Garza - drums (1999–2003)
Tyler Jones - trumpet (2001–2004)
Justin Ferreira - drums (2003–2005)
Matt Wong - bass, backing vocals (1992–2007)
Scott Klopfenstein - trumpet, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1995–2011)
Til I Hit the Ground
Reel Big Fish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's alright, it's alright
I'll be fine
Now I'm falling
It's alright, it's alright
Gonna look like I'm flying
We'll they're screaming at my windows
They're chopping down the back door
Of my wonderin' promise land
They're begging me to save the world
They're dealing at my feet
And I'll tell em' that the anti-Christ
Lives just across the street
Sky is falling
It's alright, it's alright
I'll be fine
Now I'm falling
It's alright, it's alright
Gonna look like I'm flying
Oh my heart it is an open sword
It never seemed to dry
And a thousand words
Just got me bloody fingers
And I wish that I could cry
And she only stopped that laughing
Long enough to dry a tear
I wish that I was some place else
But I found I'm always here
Sky is falling
It's alright, it's alright
I'll be fine
Now I'm falling
It's alright, it's alright
Gonna look like I'm flying
Sky is falling
It's alright, it's alright
I'll be fine
Now I'm falling
It's alright, it's alright
Gonna look like I'm flying
Well I've got no time to argue
And I got no time to spare
The world is burning down at night
And she don't really care
I would give her everything
But I tell you it's a shame
Cause' she is all I think about
And I just forgot her name
The lyrics in Reel Big Fish's "Til I Hit the Ground," seem to touch on the feeling of being overwhelmed and feeling like the sky is falling down around you. It's a state of mind that can manifest in many different ways: anxiety, depression, or feelings of powerlessness in a world that seems to be crumbling. However, while there is a sense of despair throughout the song, it's also about tenacity and pushing through the chaos.
The opening line, "Sky is falling / It's alright, it's alright / I'll be fine / Now I'm falling / It's alright, it's alright / Gonna look like I'm flying," sets the tone for this sense of uncertainty and unrest that is pervasive throughout the tune. Despite the chaos, the singer is determined to come out okay on the other side, and they'll do whatever it takes to survive. We get a sense that the world is in chaos, and we see the singer battling to navigate their way through it all.
The second verse cements this feeling of being overwhelmed, as the singer is pursued relentlessly by the torch- and axe-wielding mob outside their "wonderin' promise land." They're desperate for someone to save them, and the singer suddenly finds themselves in the unenviable position of being someone who might be able to save the day. However, the weight of this responsibility is heavy - the singer notes that people are "dealing at my feet," and asking them to "save the world." Despite the pressure, the singer remains resolute, standing their ground even in the face of impending doom.
In the final verse, we see the singer grappling with heartbreak and loss, as they struggle to remember even the name of the person they care about most. There's a sense of sadness and resignation that pervades the final lines of the song, as we see the singer admitting that they don't have the luxury of time or energy for anything besides the fight to stay afloat in a world that's falling apart.
Overall, "Til I Hit the Ground" is a song that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit, even in the darkest of times. It's about finding the strength to persevere even when everything seems stacked against you.
Line by Line Meaning
Sky is falling
The situation is getting worse
It's alright, it's alright
It is not a big deal, everything will be fine
I'll be fine
I can handle it
Now I'm falling
I am experiencing failure
Gonna look like I'm flying
I will make the best out of this situation
They're screaming at my windows
People are trying to get my attention
They've got axes in their hands
They are aggressive and violent
They're chopping down the back door
They are trying to break into my safe place
Of my wonderin' promise land
Of my hopes and dreams
They're begging me to save the world
They want me to solve all their problems
They're dealing at my feet
They are trying to get my attention and favor
And I'll tell em' that the anti-Christ
I will use sarcasm to respond to their unrealistic expectations
Lives just across the street
Someone else is to blame, not me
Oh my heart it is an open sword
My emotions are raw and painful
It never seemed to dry
I cannot recover or move on
And a thousand words
I have tried to express my feelings
Just got me bloody fingers
But nobody seems to listen or care
And I wish that I could cry
I wish I could express my emotions more openly
And she only stopped that laughing
She is not taking my pain seriously
Long enough to dry a tear
She only pretended to care for a brief moment
I wish that I was some place else
I wish I could escape this situation
But I found I'm always here
But I cannot escape from my emotions and thoughts
Well I've got no time to argue
I cannot waste time on meaningless conflicts
And I got no time to spare
I have too much to deal with already
The world is burning down at night
The world is falling apart, and it is overwhelming
And she don't really care
She is not there for me, despite my pain
I would give her everything
I would do anything for her
But I tell you it's a shame
But I know she does not deserve it
Cause' she is all I think about
Despite everything, she is still on my mind
And I just forgot her name
But I am starting to let go of this obsession
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Krish Shanmugam
on Everyone Else is an Asshole
dont